Japan and other G-7 countries should use the group’s trade ministers meeting later this year to push for a common set of export control standards across member states, which could help allied export control systems better respond to modern security and human rights issues, export control and technology policy experts said. In comments recently submitted to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the experts said plurilateral controls by G-7 countries and other like-minded “techno-democracies” can address some issues the existing multilateral control regimes are hindered from tackling because of Russia’s membership (see 2211210005 and 2009290042).
House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans are asking the Bureau of Industry and Security for information on its export enforcement and compliance efforts involving China, including steps to crack down on Chinese transfers of controlled U.S. technology to State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSTs). In a letter sent to BIS last week, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, chair of the committee, said he is concerned China’s “economic and trade ties” with terrorism sponsors is “undermining U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.” He and Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., asked BIS to provide information on recent Chinese export violations, licensing procedures, end-use checks and more by March 2.
The Bureau of Industry and Security will expedite export license applications for items related to humanitarian and earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria, BIS announced Feb. 17. Although most aid-related items don’t require a license under the Export Administration Regulations, BIS said it will fast-track any items that do, including heavy equipment, telecommunications hardware and software, portable generators, medical devices, water purification equipment, sanitation equipment and shelter materials.
As U.S. government regulators continue to face pressure from Congress to more quickly place export restrictions on emerging technologies, the Commerce Department and industry officials are grappling with the potential ethical consequences of controls on a technology that could have groundbreaking medical benefits.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on the “effectiveness” of its licensing procedures for exports and reexports of agricultural goods to Cuba, the agency said in a notice this week. BIS will use the comments as it prepares a biennial report to the Congress on its Cuba-related export licensing, per the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, which requires BIS to report on licensing procedures for the period Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2022. The report must include information on the number and types of licenses applied for, the number and types of licenses approved, the average amount of time elapsed from the license’s filing date until its approval date, and a “description of comments received from interested parties,” BIS said. Public comments, due March 20, should be “as specific as possible,” the agency said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week suspended the export privileges of a Texas resident for illegal exports to Mexico. Carlos Francisco Rodriguez was convicted Nov. 3, 2021, after “knowingly and willfully” trying to smuggle from the U.S. to Mexico about 15,923 rounds of ammunition of “assorted calibers,” BIS said. Francisco Rodriguez was sentenced to two years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. BIS suspended his export privileges for seven years from the conviction date.
The Commerce Department and DOJ this week launched a new task force to “target illicit actors” and protect critical technologies from being acquired by “nation-state adversaries.” The Disruptive Technology Strike Force -- which will be led by Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security and DOJ’s National Security Division -- will focus on investigating and prosecuting criminal export violations, improving “administrative enforcement” of export controls, coordinating law enforcement actions and “disruption strategies” with U.S. allies and more.
The Bureau of Industry and Security suspended the export privileges of three people this week, including one person who tried to ship controlled items to an entity on the Entity List.
The U.S., the EU and others can take steps to improve how they administer export controls, deliver guidance to industry and more efficiently target dangerous end users, experts said this week. One expert specifically called on the U.S. to revise the Entity List, which should better isolate the worst export control offenders.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week suspended the export privileges of two Canadian residents after they tried to ship controlled goods without the required licenses.